Telephone selecting device.



No.'728,147. a PATBNTED MAY 12, 190s. W. D. WATKINS.

TELEPHONE SELECTING DBVIOE.

APPLICATION FILED D30. 2, 1901- 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

EOMoDEL.

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PATENTED MAY 12. .1903.

W. WATKINS. TELEPHONE SELECTING DEVICE.

APPLICATION TILED DEC. 2, 1901.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

N0 MODEL.

Hdii esse Patented May 12, 1903 ATENT FFICE.

IVILLIAM D. WATKINS, OF SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO WATKINS MANUFACTURING CO., OF SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA.

TELEPHON E SELECTING DEVICE.

sriacnrrcnr101v formingater Letters Patent No. 728,147, dated May 12, 1903. Application filed December 2, 1901. Serial No. 34,418. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom-it may cancer Be it known that I, WILLIAM D. WATKINS, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Jose, in the county of Santa Clara and State.

of California, have invented a new and useful Telephone Selecting Device, of which the" use in telephony or similar systems wherein a number of subscribers are on a single line and where it is desired to ring up a certain subscriber without sounding the bell of any other subscriber, it being understood,'of

course, that the specific mechanism may be used without any other communicatinginstrument, as where it is desired to send "a' signal having a predetermined in terpretation.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is. an inverted plan view of a telephone select ing device constructed and arranged in ac- ;o cordance with my 'invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional elevation of the mechanism on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. perspective view of the device, the magnets and a portion of the frame being omitted. 5 Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional elevation illustrating the locking and guard disks and drawn to a somewhat larger scale in order to show the structure more clearly. Fig. 5 is a similar view illustrating thelocking and guard disks indifi'erent positions. Fig. 6 is a similar view of the locking andguard' disks looking from the opposite side. Fig. 7 "is a sectional elevationof the same on the line 7 7 of Fig. 5.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to designate corresponding parts in the several views.

In the drawings there is shown a common form of telephone call-bell including a frame comprising end plates 10 and 11, having 'con- Fig. 3 is a ne'cting-braceslz. On the plates 10 are mounted the coils-13 andle of the bell-magnet, the poles 15of which are spaced inwardly from the plate 11. The plate 11 has laterallyextending arms 16, in which are engaged the pivot-screws 17 for the support of a pivoted armature 18; The armature 18 is polarized and carries a bell clapper 19, extending through a suitable opening in the plate 10 or at a point below the plate in operative relation to the bells 20. The device forming the subject of the present invention is designed as an attachment for this mechanism which may be readily applied and removed, and it comprises a frame adapted to be secured to the braces 12 and carrying a soft-iron armature in operable relation to the poles of the magnet and mechanism for engaging with the clapper and operable by the movements of said armature. The frame comprises a main plate or bar 21, held in parallel relation with the magnet-coils by arms or braces 22, extending from each side of the bar and having at their outer ends sockets 23 for the reception of'the braces 12 ofthe bell-frame, the socket-pieces being rigidly secured in place by suitable screws 24:. At'one end of ing provided at its outer end with a horizontally-disposed open-ended slot On the inner side of the upper po'rtionof .thearrn 29 is formed a recess 32 for the reception of the go conical end of anarbor 33, the opposite end of which finds a bearing in a screw'34t, adapted to a threaded opening in the plate 30 and provided with a suitable lock-nut 35. In vertical alinement with the recess 32 the arm 29 5 is provided with a threaded opening for the reception of a screw 36, having a suitable lock-nut 37 and forming at its inner end a bearing for the reception of the conical end of an arbor 38, the opposite end of which is I adapted to a recess 39, formed in the arm 30 at a point below and in vertical alinement with the screw 34. On the arbor 38 isa locking-disk 40, provided with a segmental slot 41, through which may pass the upper arbor 33, the slot being of a length sufficient to permit of the rotative movement of the disk necessary to effect its movement from locking to unlocking position, and vice versa. On the periphery of the disk 40 is a notch or a recess 42, adapted for the reception of the lower end of a locking-dog 43, pivoted at 44 to the frame and having an upwardly-projecting finger 45, adapted to a recess 46, formed in the end of an arm 47, which forms part of the fixed frame and extends to a point over the vertical center of the arbors 33 and 38. The outer end of the arm 47 is provided with an upper tongue or finger 48, forming, with the upper surface of the arm, a guidingslot 49 for the reception of the bell-clapper 19, the latter at this point being square in cross-section, as indicated at 50, so that there will be no danger of its turning or binding in the guiding-slot. The opening 46, through which the finger 45 of the dog projects, is arranged centrally of the limits of vibratory movement of the clapper-arm and when held up in the guiding-slot 49 will engage with one or other side of the clapper and prevent vibration of the same when the magnet is being energized to efiect the operation of the selecting mechanism.

The periphery of the disk 40 is provided with ratcheoteeth 51 of any desired number, which may be engaged by a transversely-disposed pawl 52, carried by an arm 53, which is pivotally connected to the outer end of a lever 54, the opposite ends of said lever being rigidly secured to the U-shaped armature 28. The pawl-carrying arm 53 has a hooked lower end 55, in which is seated one end of a spring 56, carried by the lever 54, the tendency of the spring being to keep the pawl in engagement with the teeth of the lockingdisk.

When in normal position, the notch or recess 42 of the locking-disk is at an angular distance from the dog 43 determined by the number of the instrument. Thus if the instrument be No. 5 the recess will be at a distance from the dog equal to the sum of five teeth of the ratchet, so that five pulsa- Lions of the armature will be necessary to move the recess to the unlocking position below the dog, it being understood that at each pulsation of the armature due to the energizing of the electromagnet the pawl will move the disk to the extent of a single tooth.

In order to retain the locking-disk in position after each advancement under the action of the pawl, I provide a retaining-pawl 57, adapted to engage with the teeth. This pawl is carried by the frame and is of the peculiar construction more specifically referred to hereinafter.

The inward movement of the upper ends of the U-shaped armature in the direction of the magnet and the downward movement of the pawl 52 is limited by an adjustable stop in the form of a small plate secured on the end of a screw 61, adapted to the slot 31 of the arm 30 and adjustable both as regards its angular position and its distance from the center of the locking-disk and when so adjusted being locked in position by suitable nuts 62. Where devices of the class are made in quantity and of a standard size, this adjustment will not be necessary in all cases, but is desirable where it may be necessary to employ locking-disks of different size.

On the upper arbor 33 is secured a guarddisk 63, provided with a segmental slot 64 for the passage of the arbor 3S, and in the periphery of said disk there is formed anotch or recess 65, normally in position beneath the laterallyprojecting arm 66 on the clapper-locking dog 43, the construction being such that when the notch or recess of the disk 63 and the notch 42 of the disk 40 are in alinement the dog will descend and release the clapper. On the periphery of the disk 63 are a number of ratchet-teeth 67 of smaller pitch than the teeth 51 of the disk 40 and adapted to be engaged by the pawl 52 when the latter is elevated under the influence of the armature-retracting spring 68, and as the centers of rotation of the disks are eccentric to each other the upward movement of the pawl will cause the latter to move out of engagement with the teeth 51 and into engagement with the teeth 67 of the guard-disk. When the magnet is energized and the pawl is pulled downward throughthe attraction of the armature, the guard-disk is rotated. the pawl being held in engagement with the teeth 67 until such time as its downward stroke brings it into engagement with the teeth 51 of the disk 40. For a period of the downward movement the pawl is in engagement with the teeth of both disks; but as it nears the limit of its movement the eccentricity of the lower or locking disk will cause the pawl to move from engagement with the teeth 67 of the guard-disk and permit the latter to move in reverse direction toward its initial position. The guard-disk is normally retained by gravity in position with its receiving-notch below the lockingdog and for this purpose is provided with one or more perforations above the arbor 33 and, if necessary, a counterbalance-weight 69 below the arbor in order to insure its center of gravity being below the arbor.

The retaining-pawl 57 for the ratchet-disk 40 is provided with a shoulder 70, with which may engage a lug 71, projecting from the periphery ot' the disk 63, and the relative arrangement of the parts is such that when the disks are in normal position the lug 71 will be in engagement with the shoulder and force the pawl 57 to inoperative position.

Returning now to the locking-disk 40, it will be observed that the disk is provided with a perforation 72 and a counterweight 73 team? to bring its center of gravity below the axis of the disk. In the face of the disk are formed a series of perforations 74, spaced for a distance equal to the pitch of the ratchet-teeth 51 and designed to receive a stop-pin 75, which may be placed in any one of the perforations to adjust the disk for action or to insure its being moved to unlocking position by any predetermined number of pulsations of the armature. From the inner side of the arm 30 extends a lug 77 in the path of the pin 75, and the disk is held by gravity with the pin in engagement with said lug. On the periphery of the disk there are formed any number of ratchet-teeth desired. If there are fifteen instruments in the circuit, each disk will be provided with at least fifteen teeth, and a sufficient number of perforations 74 are provided to enable the adjustment of any one disk for movement to unlocking position under one or two or more pulsations of the armature, the position of the stop-pin determining the angular movement of the disk necessary to release the locking-dog. If in the present instance the normal position of the notch or recess 42 be at an angular distance from the locking-dog 43 equal to the distance covered by five teeth of the ratchet, it will require five pulsations to actuate it and release the bell-clapper. The principal function of the guard-disk is to prevent the unlocking of an instrument requiring five pulsations to unlock the bell-clapper when six or seven or more pulsations are imparted to the armature to unlock an instrument requiring six or seven or more pulsations to actuate it, and in operation the downward movement of the pawl 52 will give the guard-disk a sudden whirl and carry it with the notch well away from itsnormalposition. Asthemovementiscompleted the locking-disk 40 is moved to the extent of one tooth, and the pawl is then released from the guard-disk, the latter tending to reassume its normal position by gravity. The successive pulsations, however, are so short that the guard-disk does not have time to return to its normal position until another pulsation effects a new movement of the pawl which gives to the disk a further movement, so that the disk cannot return to its normal position until the final pulsation.

The final pulsation--say the fifth in the pres ent instance-will have moved the lockingdisk to position with its notch 42 in alinement with the locking-dog, and on this final pulsation the circuit is held closed for a comparatively long period of time in order to ring the bell. The current employed is preferably the ordinary magneto alternating current usual in devices of the class, and the armature 28 will be held attracted during all the time the circuit is held closed on the long pulsation. As the pawl 52 is held in engagement with the teeth of the locking-disk and out of engagement with the teeth of the guard-disk during such time as the magnet is energized and the armature attracted, the guard-disk will have time to move by gravity to its normal position, with the notch in alinement with the notch of the locking-disk, permitting the locking-dog to fall clear of the clapper, the latter being vibrated by its polarized armature so long as the circuit is kept closed. When the guard-disk moves to its normal position, the lug 71 thereon will engage with the shoulder and move the pawl 57 from engagement with the teeth of the ratchetdisk 40; but said disk is held by the pawl 52 from moving to its normal or looking position until such time as the current is broken and the magnet is denergized. When this occurs, the armature 28 is released and is ele vated by its spring 68, the pawl being moved upward and out of engagement with the teeth of the disk 40 by contact with the teeth of the guard-disk, permitting the locking-disk to swing back by gravity until the pin 75 is again in engagement with the lug 77, the dog 43 being elevated and the clapper locked in position until the next operation. With this construction it will be seen that to call any subscriber on a common line it is only necessary to close the calling-circuit a sufficient number of times, holding the last closure to ring the bell the desired length of time, and that when the circuit is finally broken the parts all return to their normal positions.

It will of course be understood that the present system may be employed in connection with a signal operable by continuous currents and that the instruments may be placed and connected in series or in multiple and that other modifications may be made and any suitable material and proportions be used for the various parts of the apparatus without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim is- 1. In a device of the class described, a movout of engagement therewith, a notched locking-disk normally holding said member in locking position, means for imparting a stepby-step movement to said disk to move the same to unlocking position, a guard-disk also engaging the locking-dog and mounted eccentrically to the locking-disk, means for imparting a rapid oscillatory movement thereto during the step-by-step movement of the locking-disk to unlocking position, the operating means being common to both disks and being adapted to be moved by one of said disks into inoperable relation to the other disk, substantially as specified.

2. In a device of the class described, a movable member, a locking-dog movable into and out of engagement therewith, a pair of eccentrically-mounted toothed disks having.

notches for the reception of the locking-dog, a pawl common to both disks, and an electromagnet for operating said pawl.

3. In a device of the class described, a movable member, a locking-dog movable into and out of engagement therewith, a pair of eccentricallymounted toothed disks having notches for the reception of the locking-dogs and an electromagnetically operated pawl adapted to engage with the teeth of both disks and to be disengaged from each disk by contact with the mating disk, substantially as specified.

4. In a device of the class described, a movable member, a locking-dog movable into and out of engagement therewith, a pair of eccentrically mounted toothed disks having notches for the reception of the locking-dog, a pawl engaging the teeth of both disks to impart a step-by-step movement to one of the disks and to effect a rapid oscillatory movement of the mating disk,and an electrom agnet for operating said pawl.

5. In a device of the class described, a movable member, a locking-dog movable into and out of engagement therewith, a pair of cocentrically mounted toothed disks having notches for the reception of said locking-dog, an electromagnetically-operated pawl adapted to engage with the teeth of both disks, and a stop for limiting the operative movement of said pawl. l

6. In a device of the class described, a movable member, a locking-dog movable into and out of engagement therewith, a pair of eccentricallymounted toothed disks having notches for the reception of said locking-dog, an electromagnetically-operated pawl adapted to engage with the teeth of both disks, and a stop adjustable with relation to the disks and adapted to limit the operative movement of said pawl.

7. In a device of the class described, a movable member, a locking-dog movable into and out of engagement, therewith, a pair of eccentrically-mounted disks having toothed peripheries, the teeth of one disk being of less pitch than those of the mating disk and both of said disks having notches for the reception of said locking-dog, an electromagnetically-operated pawl adapted to engage with the teeth of both disks and to be moved out of engagement with each disk by contact with the mating disk.

8. In a device of the class described, a movable member, a locking-dog movable into and out of engagement therewith, a pair of eccentricallymounted toothed disks having recesses for the reception ofsaid locking-dog, a

retaining-pawl adapted to engage with the' teeth of one of the disks, a peripheral lug or projection on the opposite disk adapted to move said pawl from its engaging position, an electromagnetically-operated pawl adapted to engage with the teeth of both disks.

9. In a device of the class described, the combination with an electromagnet, of an armature, a bell-clapper secured thereto, upper and lower guides arranged one on each side of the clapper for maintaining the latter in proper position, a locking-dog adapted, in connection with the guide, to hold the clapper in fixed position, and means operable by the magnet for moving said locking-dog into and out of engagement with the clapper.

10. In a device of the class described, the combination with an electromagnet, of an armature, a bell-clapper having a rectangular portion intermediate of its ends, a guide through which the rectangular portion is passed, a locking-dog disposed midway of the length of the guide and adapted for engagement with either side of the clapper, and means under the control of the magnet for effecting the movement of the locking-dog to operative or inoperative position, substantially as specified.

11. In a device of the class described, the combination with a bell-magnet and its frame, of an auxiliary frame adapted to be attached to the bell-frame and comprising a central bar having laterally-extending end portions and provided at one end with yoke-like arms for the reception of disk arbors, disk arbors carried by said arms in the same vertical plane, toothed disks mounted on said arbors, a locking-dog guided by a portion of the auxiliary frame and adapted to engage with the clapper of the bell, a U shaped armature having its vertical arms arranged outside the laterally-extended end portions, pivot-screws passing through said vertical arms into engagement with said laterally-extended end portions, and means for operatively connecting the armature to the disk, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM D. WATKINS.

Witnesses:

C. E. DOYLE, F. S. APPLEMAN. 

